This Week’s Highlights
Dear Neighbors,
The holiday season is upon us! This week, I was lucky to take part in two holiday parties with our senior community, on Wednesday at Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center and today at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. It’s always special spending time with our seniors and being reminded of the warmth and connection that define our community.
This week, I have several important legislative updates, including progress on my bill moving the District away from mercury-containing lightbulbs, as well as bills helping seniors age with dignity. I’m also letting neighbors know about some of the upcoming events to support Ward 4 businesses this holiday season! Lastly, with below-freezing weather expected this weekend, cold.dc.gov has shelter information and other resources for neighbors who may need support.
Community News
Support Ward 4 Businesses This Holiday Season!
As we gear up for the holiday season and the season of gift giving, I want to encourage neighbors to support our amazing small businesses here in Ward 4! Here are a few events coming up where you can find some of what our local businesses have to offer:
- This Saturday, December 13th, enjoy cocoa at Takoma restaurants and cafes during Main Street Takoma’s Cocoa Crawl! Make one stop or many. Businesses will provide single use mugs or to-go cups and prices and sizes vary by business. Sip and shop – the Takoma Cocoa Crawl is also a great day to do holiday shopping!
- On Saturday, December 13th from 10am to 4pm, one of Petworth’s best holiday events of the year returns: the Upshur Street Craft Fair! Join for a full day of shopping, entertainment, and family-friendly fun, including free photos with Santa, live music, face painting, and giveaways from Mrs. Claus. There will also be special promotions from neighborhood shops and restaurants along the Upshur Street corridor. A great way to kickstart your holiday shopping!
- Next Saturday, December 20th, head back to Petworth for the Upshur Street Cookie Crawl, where you can stop into participating businesses along Upshur and 9th Street NW and snag a freshly baked cookie at each shop! The event will take place all day from 10am to 6pm, sponsored by Petworth Main Street.
- If you’re looking to give the gift of art this holiday season, stop by Zenith Gallery in Shepherd Park to see their collection of unique objects to pass down through the generations! The gallery is currently showing a new exhibit. “Gifts from the HeART,” featuring new artists Reggie Gillumo and Shawn Yancy. The exhibit will be open starting now until January 13th.
For more events and opportunities like these to shop local for the holidays, check out Uptown Main Street, Petworth Main Street, Upper Georgia Ave Main Street, The Parks Main Street, and The Parks at Walter Reed.
Council News/Legislative Updates
Legislation Protecting Senior Homeownership
As Councilmember, I often hear from seniors in Ward 4 who are struggling to afford their property taxes or need to move closer to family support but are deterred by higher tax burdens. In response to this problem, I have introduced two bills to help our seniors age in place while retaining the tax benefits they’ve worked hard to earn: the Senior Tax Aggregation Act and the Senior Citizen Tax Cap Transfer Act.
The Senior Tax Aggregation Amendment Act aims to address a problem many seniors face in maintaining ownership over their homes. In many cases, DC seniors have inherited homes from their parents, only to find they can’t access property tax benefits because DC requires a 50% ownership requirement. When three or more siblings jointly inherit a home, no one may hold the required ownership share—putting them at risk of displacement. My bill lets seniors aggregate their ownership shares to meet the 50% threshold—a simple change that will prevent many from being priced out of their neighborhoods.
This week, I also introduced the Senior Citizen Tax Cap Transfer Act. Oftentimes, seniors need to move from their longtime homes to be closer to family, or into residences that better meet their physical needs. But right now, this transition can mean losing tax benefits they’ve built over years and increasing their tax bill by thousands of dollars. My Tax Cap Transfer Act allows eligible seniors to transfer their existing tax credit to a new home purchased within twelve months. Tax burdens shouldn’t be a barrier to making necessary housing changes, and this bill removes those barriers and makes transitions financially manageable.
The seniors who built this city deserve to stay in this city, and these are impactful reforms that will address real issues for senior homeowners while creating a fairer property tax system. I’m grateful to my colleagues who co-introduced these important bills and look forward to updating neighbors on the bills’ progress!
Council Holds Hearing on the Shine Safely Act
This week, the Council held a hearing on another of my bills, the Shine Safely Act of 2025. Right now, many DC residents still use mercury-containing fluorescent lightbulbs that pose significant risks when broken, especially to pregnant women and young children. The World Health Organization lists mercury among the top ten chemicals of major public health concern, and many states have taken steps to restrict the sale of these lightbulbs. However, the District’s statutes concerning this issue are outdated.
The Shine Safely Act would prohibit the sale of these mercury-containing light bulbs and encourage LED mercury-free bulbs that are more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and better for our environment. During Thursday’s hearing, I was grateful to hear from members of the community on this bill, and how it would impact our communities. I’m proud to have worked with the Sierra Club on advancing this legislation, and I look forward to it becoming law.
Community Resources
Grant Opportunities for Ward 4 Businesses
Earlier this year, the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development opened its Robust Retail Grant program, aiming to provide funds to local brick-and-mortar businesses to maintain operations and viability. DSLBD plans to award up to $10,000 per business to approximately 50 businesses from the $500,000 in available Fiscal Year 2026 funding. The grants will be awarded via lottery to DC retail businesses that meet all eligibility requirements. If you operate a business in Ward 4 and are interested in accessing support, visit DSLBD’s website to determine eligibility and apply! The final day to submit applications is January 20th, 2026, by 5pm.
OAG Mediation for Tenants Facing Heating Issues
As the weather gets colder, the DC Attorney General’s Mediation Program is an important resource for neighbors who are having heating issues. If you are a District renter and your landlord is being unresponsive, OAG’s Mediation Program will prioritize these complaints and contact the responsible party the same day. Complaints can be submitted through the OAG Consumer Complaint Portal. OAG Mediation also staffs a hotline open from Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm to respond to requests for help and provide accurate information to callers. You can reach this hotline by calling 202-442-9828.
DDOT Repair Work Taking Place on Taylor St NW
The DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) has begun repair work on Taylor St NW from Kansas Ave to 13th St NW. The project is expected to be complete by December 19th, 2025, with work taking place Monday through Saturday from 7am to 6pm to repair sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and wheelchair ramps. Any questions related to this construction work can be sent to Project Engineer Victor Nwabueze, victor.nwabueze@dc.gov.
Leaf Collection Begins in Petworth and Brightwood Park on December 22
Due to below-freezing weather expected in the next week, the Department of Public Works (DPW) will begin collecting leaves in Section D, which includes Brightwood Park and Petworth east of Georgia Ave, on Monday, December 22nd. As a reminder, DPW will conduct two rounds of leaf collection in each section. As this process continues, I want to make sure neighbors are aware of a few important highlights:
- To report a missed collection, call 202-737-4404 or submit a 311 request.
- Locate your section and keep up to date on DPW’s progress via the leaf collection tracker at dpw.dc.gov/leaf.
- To ensure proper collection, make sure to have your leaves raked to your curbside or tree box at least 24 hours before collection is scheduled to begin in your section.
Neighborhood Events
Local Maternity Thread Grand Opening on Upshur Street
On Saturday, December 13th from 3 to 4pm, Local Maternity Thread, a Takoma Park-based community organization, is sponsoring the opening of Ward 4’s newest maternity and nursing clothing closet at 9th and Upshur St NW. After the grand opening, the clothing closet will be open for all to browse and donate clothing any time, no appointment needed. The closet is open to all, whether new maternity clothing is outside of your budget or you just prefer to recycle!
Shepherd Park Library T-Shirt Design Contest
The Friends of the Shepherd Park Library are sponsoring a T-shirt design contest to promote the library. “Books Not Burgers” was the slogan that got the library built 35 years ago. Should it stay? Or is there something else distinctively DC that would make for a great T-shirt? There are prizes! For contest details, click here. Entries can be submitted to pattison_mark@outlook.com before December 14th.
Christ Lutheran Church Wreath Workshop
On Saturday, December 13th from 12 to 3pm, Christ Lutheran Church (5101 16th St NW) will host a free wreath workshop for members of the community. Snacks and all supplies needed for a homemade wreath will be provided. All are welcome!
Important Reminders
Office Hours in the Community
Ward 4 office hours are happening every Wednesday afternoon at Fort Stevens Rec Center from 12 to 1pm, followed by office hours at Hattie Holmes Senior Wellness Center from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Community members can stop by and speak one-on-one with a member of our team about DC government services or our work in the Ward 4 community.
Share Reports of Federal Law Enforcement Incidents
In August, my office launched an online reporting form for neighbors to report and document any concerning incidents involving federal agents. This information will be critical as we build our case, ensure organizations working on the ground are informed, and continue to hold this administration accountable. Please share the image with your social networks and neighbors to let others in the community know about this resource.
As our DC government works to keep our community safe, supported, and informed during this time, I also encourage neighbors to fill out my survey seeking input from residents to help shape how our office communicates around new federal developments.
Support for Federal Workers
As many in our community face unprecedented challenges, I’m grateful to everyone who is stepping up to support neighbors. The Office of the Mayor has rolled out fedsupport.dc.gov, sharing resources for federal workers who have been laid off or impacted by recent cuts. I also want to remind neighbors of resources on my website for federal workers impacted by recent actions and neighbors facing the threat of immigration enforcement, compiled with the help of Councilmember Nadeau. DC government and the DC Council are also hiring for a range of positions, and I encourage community members to take a look at the open positions and share with a neighbor.
Ward 4 in the News
Petworth News: Petworth Library closes December 11th for renovations
PoPville: “Hines Veterinary Group now open on Kennedy Street!” (near Jackie Lee’s)
NBC 4: How the 1969 Turkey Bowl shaped a DC tradition: Alumni reminisce
Petworth News: Upshur Street Craft Fair on Saturday, Dec 13! Santa, arts & crafts, artisan shopping & more!
Washingtonian: “Queering the District” Captures the History of DC’s LGBTQ Bars
Ward 4 Dispatch: Porchfest Permitting Passes, Petworth Library Renovations, and Senior Holiday Party!
These are news articles that mention Ward 4 or pertain to events in our community. Councilmember Lewis George does not write or endorse their content but shares them for community awareness.
Last week, we celebrated a major milestone with the dedication of the newly modernized Dorothy I. Height Elementary School! The new school building features 86,000 square feet of reimagined learning spaces for nearly 400 Monarchs from Pre-K3 through 5th grade. This is the result of fighting year after year to fully fund our neighborhood schools, and I’m grateful to DCPS, DGS, the Dorothy Height PTO, and our ANC commissioners for helping make this happen!
Sunday night marks the first night of Hanukkah for our Jewish neighbors in Ward 4 and beyond. As families and friends gather across our community to light the menorah, may each night rekindle light, warmth, joy, and strength for the year ahead.
Have a great weekend, Ward 4!
Yours in Community,
—Janeese
